THE MORAL LAW
1.THERE was once a lawyer，who was a very profane man，and a skeptic.On a certain occasion he asked another lawyer what books he should read on the evidences of Christianity.He was advised to read，in the first instance，the Bible itself；inasmuch as most infidels are very ignorant of it；and furthermore，in order to reason correctly on any subject，it is necessary to understand what it is that we reason about.
2.It was stated to him also，that the internal evidences of the Bible are even stronger than the external.He was advised to begin his perusal of the Bible with the book of Genesis.This advice was complied with：the aid of commentaries，and of his legal friend，was employed in solving difficulties.
3.One evening，some time after this course of study was commenced，the Christian lawyer called on his skeptical friend，and found him walking his room，and so profoundly engaged in thought that his own entrance into the room was not noticed，until he asked his friend what it was that occupied his attention.The skeptic replied，“I have been reading the moral law.”“Well，what do you think of it？”asked the other.“I will tell you what I used to think of it，”said the skeptic.“I supposed that Moses was the leader of a horde of banditti；that having a strong mind，he acquired great influence over a superstitious people；and that on Mount Sinai he played off some sort of fireworks，to the amazement of his ignorant followers，who imagined，in their mingled fear and superstition，that the exhibition was supernatural.”
4.“But what do you think now？”followed his friend.“I have been looking，”replied the skeptic，“into the nature of that law.I have been trying to see whether I can add any thing to it，or take any thing from it，so as to make it better.Sir，I can not：it is perfect.
5.”The First Commandment，“continued he，“directs us to make the Creator the object of supreme love and reverence.That is right：if he be our creator，preserver，and supreme benefactor，we ought to treat him，and no other，as such.The Second Commandment forbids idolatry：that precept certainly is right.The Third，with equal justness，forbids profanity.
6.”The Fourth fixes a time for religious worship.If there be a God，he ought certainly to be worshiped：it is suitable that there should be an outward homage，significant of our inward regard.If God is to be worshiped，it is proper that some time should be set apart for that purpose，when all may worship him harmoniously，and withoutinterruption.One day in seven is certainly not too much；and I do not know that it is too little.The Fifth defines the peculiar duties arising from family relations.
7.“Injuries to our neighbor are then classified by the moral law.They are divided into offenses against life，chastity，property，and character；and，”said he，“I notice that the greatest offense in each class is expressly forbidden.Thus，the greatest injury to life is murder：to chastity，adultery：to property，theft：to character，perjury.Now the greater offense must include the lesser of the same kind.Murder must include every injury to life，adultery，every injury to purity；and so of the rest；and the moral code is closed and perfected by a prohibition，forbidding every improper desire in regard to our neighbor.
8.”I have been thinking，“he proceeded，“WHERE MOSES GOT THAT LAW.I have read history.The Egyptians and the adjacent nations were idolaters；so were the Greeks and Romans；and the wisest and best of Greeks or Romans never gave a code of morals like this.Where did Moses get this law，which surpasses the wisdom and philosophy of the most enlightened ages？He lived at a period comparatively barbarous.
9.”Yet he has given a law，in which the learning and sagacity of all subsequent times can detect no flaw.Where did he get it？He could not have soared so far above his age as to have devised it himself，I am satisfied where he obtained it：IT MUST HAVE COME FROM HEAVEN.I am convinced of the truth of the religion of the Bible.“
中文阅读
1.从前有一位律师，他是个世俗的无神论者。有一次，他向另一位律师请教，如果想了解基督教的话应该读些什么书。那个律师推荐他先读《圣经》，因为大多数异教徒对《圣经》知之甚少，此外，为了对一切问题进行正确的推理，有必要了解我们推断的主题。
2.因为《圣经》的内在证据要比外在证据还要强有力，因此，别人建议他熟读圣经的《创世纪》，这样他就能够在社会舆论的导引和律师朋友的帮助下去解决问题了。
3.在他学习了一段时间后，一天晚上，信奉基督的律师来拜访这个信奉无神论的朋友，发现他正在屋子里踱来踱去，深深地陷入了沉思，连他进来都没有觉察到。朋友问他那么专注在想什么，这个无神论者回答：“我一直在读道德戒律。”“你怎么看？”朋友问。“我要告诉你我以前是怎么想的。”无神论者说，“我以前以为摩西是匪徒部落的头，意志力坚强，他对迷信的人产生了巨大的影响。他在西奈山上玩起了焰火，这让他那些愚昧的追随者惊叹不已，恐惧过后产生了迷信，把这种焰火表演想象成了超自然现象。”
4.“你现在又是怎么想呢？”朋友问。“我一直在研究戒律的本质，”无神论者回答说，“看看我是否可以添加一点东西，或者去掉一点什么，使它更完善。可是先生，我做不到，因为它是完美无瑕的。”
5.他接着说道：“第一戒律，指引着我们认识到创建者拥有至高无上的爱与尊严，这是正确的；如果他是我们的创造者﹑保护人和至高的恩人，那么我们应该这样看待他，而不应该这样看待其他人。第二戒律禁止谬论，这样的训诫自然是对的。同样，第三戒律禁止亵渎。
6.”第四条确定了时间来做礼拜。如果上帝存在的话，他当然应该受到顶礼膜拜，显而易见，对他表示尊敬是理所当然的，这对我们关注内心世界是至关重要的。如果需要礼拜上帝的话，那么，就应该为此留出一定时间，让所有人都在和谐的环境中不受打扰地礼拜他。一星期中用一天时间当然不会太多，我不知道是不是太少了。第五条针对家庭关系提出了特别的职责。
7.“道德戒律把我们对周围人的伤害进行了分类，分为对生命的伤害﹑对贞节的侵犯﹑对财产的侵犯和对品格的冒犯。还有，”他说，“我注意到在每一种分类中都明令禁止实施最大的伤害。由此看来，对生命最大的伤害是谋杀，对贞节最大的侵犯是通奸，对财产最大的侵犯是盗窃，对品格最大的冒犯是作伪证。而在最大的伤害中必然包括较小的伤害，即谋杀必然包括对生命的伤害，通奸必然包括对纯洁的伤害，依此类推。由此制定了一条禁令，以保证道德法典的完美无缺，这条禁令就是禁止我们在任何不正当欲望的驱使下伤害我们周围的人。
8.”我一直在想，“他继续说，”摩西是从哪里得到的戒律？我读过历史，埃及人和其毗邻国家的人都是偶像崇拜者，希腊人与罗马人也是如此，就连最聪慧、最优秀的希腊人或者罗马人也从来没有拥有过像这样的一部道德法典，那么，摩西是从哪里得到这部宝典的呢？它超越了最文明的时代的智慧和哲学，而摩西却生活在一个相对来说较为野蛮的时代。
9.“但就是他创造了这样的圣戒，在接下来的时代里，让智者找不出任何纰漏。他到底是从哪里得到的呢？他不可能跨越自己所处的时代自行设计这样的戒律，所以它一定是来自天堂。对于这一解释我很满意，我被说服了--《圣经》中的宗教信仰是真实的存在。”